JV Brothers

Mack and Andrew made the JV soccer team this year.  I loved going to every game and was so bummed when I missed.  They both played forward most of the time with occasional times as mid field.  Mack scored 7 goals.  Their team was amazing - they only lost two regular season games but managed to beat Caldwell for the first time in 20 years.  We made it to districts where we beat Vallivue in penalty kicks and then went right into the game with Caldwell.  They beat us that time but we ended the season 2nd place.  Such an awesome season.

Here is Mack passing to Andrew.

Andrew to Mack.

Mack truly had some amazing plays.  Greg and I called him the "play maker" because he was so good a figuring out how to create opportunities to score.  During the awards ceremony his assistant coach said he was a creative player - I loved that.  He really tried lots of unique things to get the ball in the net.  Can't wait to watch him next year.

Andrew was the smallest kid on the field most of the time but that didn't slow him down.  He got right in there and that usually left him on the ground but he drew a lot of fouls that way.  

Mack sending it to Andrew.  He never quite got it in the net but it was close - next year!

Senior Pics - When did this happen?

Natali's Senior pics got rained out halfway through the first day so we had to take a second day but they turned out great.  It was fun to go with her, carry her stuff and just hang out she and Heather.  Fabulous job Heather. 

Love the glowing book!

This one is my favorite.  The eye roll has been a regular image at our house for years.

Mack is 16!!!

Macky is sweet 16!!!  Crazy to think that this little dude is old enough to date and drive.  

Typical Mack, he wanted a plain chocolate cake.  I did make some chocolate frosting for the rest of us.

He got a lot of candy and wasn't complaining about that.

He got a Bayern Munich jersey, some soccer books, and shin guards.  Can you tell what he likes best?  Yep - soccer and candy at least it is easy to make him happy.

First Day of School

First day of school silliness 2019.

Our first grader off to all day school with Mrs. K.  I'll miss my little shadow but I'm looking forward to having the day to myself.

Emily off to Mill Creek with Mrs. Butler - 4th grade.  

Kate felt sick and really didn't want to head off to 7th grade but she toughed out the first day (then stayed home sick for the second and third).  

This year I have three High Schoolers- CRAZY!!!  Natali the cool Senior missed first day of school pics because she was at swim practice (starts at 5am!).  Mack, Sophomore and Andrew, Freshman were off bright and early for a new year! 

Last Hurrah of Summer

Summer wouldn't be complete without our week in McCall.  Val joined us for the first half of the week and the kids had a blast tubing and riding on the boat together.  Luke and Andrew went "running" together every morning - I'm not so sure they weren't just looking for deer.  The pool was closed so we enjoyed hours in the lake and playing in the sand.

Luke, Andrew and Abby showing off. 

These girls spent hours just riding in the boat.  They didn't need to get on the tube to be happy.

When the Wilfords left we had to bury our grief at Ice Cream Alley while we waited for Natali and Mack to drive up after work.

Natali, Mack, and Andrew started Thursday morning by running towards the Pancake House.  I left the house 30 mins later with the little girls and drove till we met up.  Andrew and Natali had run about three miles, by the time we met up with Mack he was a mile from the Pancake House and had run 5 miles.  I guess they deserved a big breakfast.  

We did a lot of tubing on this trip - even Lily got in on the action.  Natali, the great big sister she is, showed Emily and Lily how to enjoy a tube ride.

As we were headed out to the boat for one last ride before a swim in the pool Uncle Kelly told the kids he had just seen a moose.  The kids missed free swim time but it was worth it to see a moose.

 They got pretty close to the beauty.  Emily was so happy!

 The second half of the week got really cool and rainy.  Less fun for swimming but perfect for hiking and picking huckleberries.  We didn't make it to the top of the mountain where there was supposed to be a lovely lake, but we did manage to register 70 flights of stairs on my phone.  The huckleberries were the key to keeping kids happy.  Whenever they got to grouchy we distracted them with picking berries.  Worked like a charm and we got quite a haul of berries.

Then home to get ready for school to start - good bye summer 😢.

And Some Other Summer Stuff

When I was in South Dakota Natali had to take my ticket to see Music Man at the Shakespeare Festival.  Lucky girl got my dessert too.

For High Adventure the Teachers had a mountain trip planed but weather conditions forced them to change course.  Their amazing leaders took them to every temple in Idaho, spent two nights in Yellowstone, and did an awesome service project at a Memory Care Center.

Natali was a part of the National Tribute Band's Redeemer Concert in Nampa.  She got to sing in the choir on stage with the band and got to meet David Archuleta and Alex Boye.  It was a lot of work but she loved it. 

We also took she and Mack to see Les Miserables for the first time.  Amazing every time!

A few beauty tips from Lily.

We came out one afternoon to this game.  I'm still not sure of the rules or purpose but the boys had printed out a bunch of soccer player pictures and taped them to their goal.  Then they aimed their kicks at the different players.  Love the creativity.

She actually slept with her unicorn bathrobe tucked inside of those footies.  How she didn't sweat through we will never know.